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Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 W/STARS -- STORE HAS TON OF WW1, WW2, MEDALS
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Croix de Guerre 1939–1945
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Croix de Guerre 1939-1945
)
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Croix de guerre 1939–1945
1939–1945 War Cross with
2 silver-gilt (gold) stars
Type
Bravery award
Awarded for
Military duty during World War II
mentioned in dispatches
Presented by
France
Clasps
silver-gilt palm
silver palm
bronze palm
silver-gilt star
silver star
bronze star
Status
No longer awarded
Established
September 26, 1939
First awarded
1939
Ribbon bar & streamer of the French Croix de guerre 1939–1945
Precedence
Next (higher)
Croix de guerre 1914–1918
Next (lower)
Croix de guerre des TOE
The
Croix de guerre 1939–1945
(War Cross 1939–1945) is a
French military decoration
, a version of the
Croix de guerre
created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the
Allies
against the
Axis forces
at any time during World War II.
Contents
1
Award statute
2
Award description
2.1
Medal
2.2
Ribbon
2.2.1
Devices
3
Award grades
3.1
Mentioned in Despatches
4
Notable recipients
5
See also
6
References
Award statute
[
edit
]
Due to the large extent of the war zone, recipients included those who fought during, with, at, or in the following:
[1]
Battle of France
French Forces of the Interior
Free French Forces
Western Front
,
Middle East Theater
Mediterranean Theater
African campaigns
Award description
[
edit
]
Medal
[
edit
]
The Croix de guerre was designed by the sculptor
Paul-Albert Bartholomé
. The medal is 37 mm in size and is in the shape of a Maltese cross with two swords criss-crossed through the center. In the center of the front, is the profile of the French Republic crested by a
Phrygian cap
. Around this portrait, are the words
République française
("French Republic"). On the reverse of the medal are the dates of the conflict : 1939–1940, 1939–1945, or simply 1940.
[1]
Ribbon
[
edit
]
The suspension and service ribbon of the medal has a red background crossed with four green lines in its center.
[2]
Devices
[
edit
]
On every medal and ribbon, there is at least one ribbon device, either in the shape of a palm or of a star, and fashioned from either bronze, silver or
silver-gilt
(vermeil). The relative importance of the six possible combinations is detailed below. The total number of devices on a
"Croix de guerre"
is not limited.
Award grades
[
edit
]
Reverse of the 1939–1945 War Cross
Mentioned in Despatches
[
edit
]
The lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm:
[2]
Bronze star (
étoile en bronze
) for those who had been mentioned at the
regiment
or
brigade
level.
Silver star (
étoile en argent
), for those who had been mentioned at the
division
level.
Silver-gilt star (
étoile en vermeil
), for those who had been mentioned at the
corps
level.
Bronze palm (
palme en bronze
), for those who had been mentioned at the
army
level.
Silver palm (
palme en argent
), represents five bronze ones.
Silver-gilt palm (
palme en vermeil
), for those who had been mentioned at the
Free French Forces
level (World War II only).
[1]
The clasps are awarded for gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies and are, depending on the degree, roughly the equivalent to the U.S.
Bronze Star
and
Silver Star
or UK
Military Cross
and
Military Medal
.